- Have taken any of the following drugs within 6 months before study entry: high-dose estrogen, high-dose testosterone, high-dose testosterone gel, testosterone creams, growth hormone, steroids to increase body size, DHEA or androstenedione (sold over the counter), prednisone and other steroid drugs at high doses, drugs to increase appetite, experimental drugs to increase appetite or weight gain, drugs that affect the immune system, pentoxifylline, thalidomide, niacin (a multivitamin containing niacin is okay), hydroxyurea, and cimetidine.